WMOD00422

• Project Name: Colorado River Enhanced Snowpack Test
• Title: CREST - Environmental Assessment and Design Phase - Finding of No Significant Impact
• Date: 4/1/1981
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

DETERMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

In accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for
Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy
Act published in the Federal Re9ister November 9, 1978, the Chief of the
Office of Atmospheric Resources Research, Water and Power Resources Service,
Engineering and Research Center, has determined that an environmental
statement is not required to conduct the Design Phase of a Colorado River
Augmentation Demonstration Program.

This document and the program environmental assessment will be available
for public inspection at the offices listed in Attachment 1 and local
public libraries to be announced later.

This document and the program environmental assessment serve as the basis
for determination that no further action is necessary to comply with the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Public Law 91-190) for the
following reasons:

1. The Design Phase of a Colorado River Augmentation Demonstration
Program, involving installation of instruments on small isolated sites,
atmospheric and ground-based data collection and its analyses, calibra-
tion of seeding procedures and project equipment, and development of the
project design for the Demonstration Phase, is not considered a major
Federal action having significant and/or adverse impacts on the natural
and human environment.

2. Because of the Office of Atmospheric Resources Research policy of
avoidance of archeological and historic sites, sites where endangered
or threatened species of animals or plants are found, and sites of
extraordinary aesthetic value, installation of instrumentation networks
and data collection activities will not affect any such special interest
areas that may be found in the Basin.

3. Preparatory field activities in the Colorado River Basin during a
Design .Phase of a precipitation management program will not affect
precipitation patterns or existing water resource uses, and they will
not preclude other existing or proposed land uses.

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